Kentucky Derby Pie [Chocolate Walnut Pie]

Place your bets on this delicious Kentucky Derby pie filled with semi-sweet chocolate chips, walnuts and a good splash of bourbon.

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to learn more about how affiliate links are used on this site.

You don’t have to hail from the state of Kentucky to know about the infamous annual horse race known as the Kentucky Derby. Held every year on the first Saturday in May, it’s dubbed “greatest two minutes in sports.” It’s a nod to the approximate length of time it takes for the horses to complete their gallop around the track, the Kentucky Derby is known for so much more than just horses. Ostentation ladies’ hats and sundresses, seersucker mens’ suits, mint julep cocktails, and Kentucky Derby pie are just a few well-known race day traditions. Kentucky Derby pie is seductively sweet. It’s very similar to one of my other favorite pecan pie recipes — chocolate pecan pie — but with walnuts and a splash of bourbon.

The origins of the Kentucky Derby pie

This chocolate chip walnut pie debuted at the Melrose Inn in the 1950’s, but didn’t become an official race day tradition until the 1990’s. The delicious pie originated at the Melrose Inn in Prospect, Kentucky, a town about 11 miles northeast of Louisville, the town where the Kentucky Derby is hosted at Churchill Downs racetrack every year.

Son George Kern and his parents, Walter Kern and Leaundra, managed the Melrose Inn restaurant in the mid-1950’s. The Kerns are credited with creating the original recipe. The popular dessert wasn’t even created as a nod to the horse race. Each family member threw their pick into a hat and a name was drawn. Eventually the Kern family left the hotel and established a bakery devoted to manufacturing the pies. The actual recipe is a closely guarded family secret and the name “Derby-Pie®” was trademarked in 1969. 

Ingredients and tools you will need

As mentioned above, the original derby pie is a closely guarded secret recipe. But I imagine this to be a reasonable, if not equally delicious, facsimile. The most significant difference between my pie and the Kerns’ is one key ingredient: a splash of bourbon. But y’all know how I love my bourbon, so why not? To make this recipe, you’ll need:

• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 3 tablespoons of bourbon
• 1 cup of light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 unbaked pie crust for a nine-inch pie plate – you can use a store-bought crust or check out my tutorial for making a homemade buttery pie crust if you want to make your own crust.
• Stand or handheld electric mixer
• 9-inch pie pan

How to make Kentucky Derby pie

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, melted butter, corn syrup, bourbon (if using), brown sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk together the ingredients until the sugar is dissolved.

Add the walnuts and chocolate chips. Mix the pie filling on low speed until the walnuts and chocolate are evenly incorporated throughout the batter. Pour the filling into the unbaked pie shell. Bake the pie for 50-60 minutes until the center of the pie is set. 

The pie didn’t bubble over for me during baking; however, I did place a foil lined sheet pan under the pie, just in case, to catch any drips. Also, keep an eye on your pie crust. At around 40 minutes of bake time, I noticed the crust was nice and golden brown, but the filling still needed a bit more cook time. I loosely covered the top of the pie with foil to prevent the edges of the pie crust from burning.

Some prefer to eat the pie warm out of the oven. The gooey filling can be a bit runny while it’s warm, so I prefer to let the pie cool completely for several hours on a wire rack before serving. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream.

Storage and freezing

Storage. Since Kentucky Derby pie contains dairy products, the pie does need to be stored in the refrigerator once it has cooled. Cover the top of the pie with plastic wrap or store it in a pie saver to prevent the pie from drying out. Consume within five days. 

Freezing. Wrap the entire baked pie or individual slices in plastic wrap then follow with a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months. Allow the pie to thaw completely in the refrigerator for several hours before serving.

More Kentucky Derby party food ideas

• Mint Julep
• Pimento Cheese
• Southern Deviled Eggs
• Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
• Hummingbird Bundt Cake